Communication system having management apparatus and user apparatus, management apparatus, user apparatus, and method of controlling the same

ABSTRACT

To facilitate account information setting, in a communication system including a management apparatus which manages account information to be used to use a service provided by a server apparatus, and a user apparatus which uses the service, the management apparatus selects, based on device classification information acquired from the user apparatus, account information to be provided to the user apparatus from one or more pieces of account information stored in a storage unit, and provides the account information to the user apparatus. The user apparatus sends the device classification information of the user apparatus to the management apparatus, receives, from the management apparatus, the account information selected based on the device classification information, and uses the service provided by the server apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a management apparatus for providing aparameter such as a user account to an external apparatus, and theinvention also relates to the user apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

There has recently been a growth in opportunities of using a service onthe world wide web by a communication apparatus. Some web servicesrequire authentication using the user account (for example, user ID andpassword) of a user in order to be used by the user. To use such a webservice, a user account creation process and registration process arenecessary. A user often uses the function of a web browser or the liketo create and register a user account for a web service via theInternet. The user inputs, via a user interface (UI), a user account tobe newly created so that the creation process is performed in the serverof the web service and a form message or the like in HTML (HypertextMarkup Language). To make the created user account usable, the useraccesses a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for user account registrationto register the user account.

It is difficult for a communication apparatus without the web browserfunction to create and register a user account. There has been proposeda technique of creating a user account in a communication apparatus andconnecting it to a web service. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2008-167269 proposes a technique of dynamically generating a useraccount from part of information associated with a communicationapparatus based on a user account generation rule.

In some web services, however, the web browser function is mandatory forthe user account creation process. For example, some services require animage authentication code for creation. The image authentication coderequests a person to read and input random numbers or charactersdisplayed as an image so as to prevent automatic registration by aprogram or a robot. Use of the image authentication code makes itdifficult for a communication apparatus without the web browser functionto create a user account automatically.

In addition, services that designate a user's e-mail address as a userID are increasing in number. That is, an e-mail address is necessary foruser account creation in some cases. For the user account creationprocess of such a web service, an apparatus having a web browserfunction or e-mail sending/receiving function is necessary.

If a communication apparatus without the web browser function is to usea web service which needs a new user account, it is necessary to createthe user account in another communication apparatus having the webbrowser function. Then, user account information identical to thecreated user account needs to be set and input in the communicationapparatus without the web browser function again. The operation ofsetting and inputting the user account again is cumbersome, anddecreases the convenience of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to provide a technique of allowing a user apparatus thathas difficulties in setting user account information to set the useraccount information easily.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a communication systemincludes a management apparatus which manages account informationrelated to a service provided by a server apparatus, and a userapparatus which uses the service, the management apparatus comprises: astorage unit configured to store account information; an acquisitionunit configured to acquire, from the user apparatus, deviceclassification information of the user apparatus; and a providing unitconfigured to select, based on the device classification informationacquired from the user apparatus, account information to be provided tothe user apparatus from the account information stored in the storageunit, and providing the selected account information to the userapparatus, and the user apparatus comprises: a sending unit configuredto send the device classification information of the user apparatus tothe management apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive, fromthe management apparatus, the account information selected by theproviding unit based on the device classification information sent bythe sending unit; and a use unit configured to use the service providedby the server apparatus in relation to the account information receivedby the receiving unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a managementapparatus which manages account information relating to a serviceprovided by a server apparatus, comprises: a storage unit configured tostore account information; an acquisition unit configured to acquire,from a user apparatus which uses the service, device classificationinformation of the user apparatus; and a providing unit configured toselect, based on the device classification information acquired from theuser apparatus, account information to be provided to the user apparatusfrom the account information stored in the storage means, and providingthe selected account information to the user apparatus.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a userapparatus which communicates with a management apparatus which managesaccount information relating to a service provided by a serverapparatus, the user apparatus comprises: a sending unit configured tosend device classification information of the user apparatus to themanagement apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive, from themanagement apparatus, account information selected based on the deviceclassification information sent by the sending unit; and a use unitconfigured to use the service provided by the server apparatus using theaccount information received by the receiving unit.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling a management apparatus which manages account informationrelated to a service provided by a server apparatus, the methodcomprises the steps of: acquiring, from a user apparatus which uses theservice, device classification information of the user apparatus;selecting, based on the device classification information acquired fromthe user apparatus, account information to be provided to the userapparatus from account information stored in a storage unit in themanagement apparatus; and providing the account information to the userapparatus.

According to still yet another aspect of the present invention, a methodof controlling a user apparatus which communicates with a managementapparatus which manages account information related to a serviceprovided by a server apparatus, the method comprises the steps of:sending device classification information of the user apparatus to themanagement apparatus; receiving, from the management apparatus, accountinformation selected based on the device classification information sentin the sending step; and using the service provided by the serverapparatus on the basis of the account information received in thereceiving step.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide atechnique of allowing a communication apparatus that has difficulties insetting user account information to easily set the user accountinformation.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall arrangement of a communicationsystem according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of a wirelesscommunication apparatus (a “user apparatus”);

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of amanagement apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of user account information;

FIG. 5 is a view showing examples of a device classification informationtable and a correlation table of device classifications and servicetypes;

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communicationsystem according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the user account acquisition processof the wireless communication apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the upload process of the wirelesscommunication apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the user account acquisition processof the management apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communicationsystem according to the first embodiment (when a user account is notregistered);

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the user account registrationprocess of the management apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communicationsystem according to the first embodiment (when a user account is not yetcreated); and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the user account creation process ofthe management apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

As a communication system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention, a communication system including a wirelesscommunication apparatus 101, management apparatus 102, and web serviceserver 105 will be exemplified below.

<Apparatus Arrangement>

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall arrangement of the communicationsystem including the management apparatus 102 serving as a communicationapparatus according to the first embodiment. The communication systemincludes the wireless communication apparatus 101 serving as a userapparatus, the management apparatus 102 serving as an account managementapparatus, a base station 103, and the web service server 105. The basestation 103 and the web service server 105 are connected to each othervia a public network 104 that can be connected to the Internet.

The wireless communication apparatus 101 and the management apparatus102 communicate by a first wireless communication method. On the otherhand, the management apparatus 102 and the base station 103 communicateby a second wireless communication method. The first wirelesscommunication method will be described as IEEE802.11 wireless LAN (localarea network) below. However, the present invention is not limited tothis, and Bluetooth® or the like may also be used. The second wirelesscommunication method will be described as a mobile communication networksuch as WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access). However, thepresent invention is not limited to this.

In the first embodiment, the wireless communication apparatus 101 has acommunication function by wireless LAN. The management apparatus 102 hasa communication function by wireless LAN and a communication function bythe mobile communication network. Note that in the followingexplanation, the wireless communication apparatus 101 is assumed to be acamera, and the user account management apparatus 102 is assumed to be acellular phone apparatus. However, the present invention is not limitedto this.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal blocks ofthe wireless communication apparatus 101. A wireless communicationprocessing unit 201 controls communication by wireless LAN. A controlunit 202 includes, for example, a CPU and peripheral circuits, andcontrols the entire wireless communication apparatus 101. A RAM 203 is avolatile memory serving as a work memory or used to temporary store datawhen executing computer programs. A ROM 204 is a nonvolatile memory thatstores control commands (i.e. computer programs).

An antenna 205 receives a radio signal transmitted from another wirelesscommunication apparatus, or transmits a radio signal to another wirelesscommunication apparatus. An antenna control unit 206 is a so-called RF(radio frequency) unit, and serves as a functional unit that demodulatesand decodes a radio signal to reconstruct information, or encodes andmodulates transmission data to generate a transmission signal. A displayunit 207 formed from a liquid crystal display or the like is afunctional unit that visually provides various kinds of information tothe user. An operation unit 208 includes switches and buttons, andserves as a functional unit that receives user instructions. A powersupply unit 209 supplies power to the units of the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101.

A device classification information processing unit 210 is a functionalunit that creates data associated with the device classificationinformation of the wireless communication apparatus 101 itself. Thedevice classification information processing unit 210 also identifiesdevice classification information from received data that is sent from apartner communication apparatus and associated with its deviceclassification information. The device classification informationprocessing unit 210 may also be referred to as a sending means becauseit sends the device classification information. A user accountacquisition unit 211 is a functional unit that generates various kindsof data to acquire a user account, and performs various kinds ofprocesses using the acquired user account, such as receiving accountinformation from an external source and using the service from theservice provider 105 based on the account information of the user. Aparameter automatic setting processing unit 212 is a functional unitthat sets a parameter necessary for wireless communication with anothercommunication apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal blocks ofthe management apparatus 102. A parameter automatic setting processingunit 301 is a functional unit that sets a parameter necessary forwireless communication with another communication apparatus. A wirelesscommunication processing unit 302 controls communication by wireless LANand communication by the mobile communication network. A control unit303 includes, for example, a CPU and peripheral circuits, and controlsthe entire management apparatus 102. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 304 isa volatile memory (i.e. a storage unit) serving as a work memory or usedto temporary store data when executing computer programs. A ROM(Read-only Memory) 305 is a nonvolatile memory that stores controlcommands. The ROM 305 also stores computer programs to implement themail function and web browser function of a cellular phone.

A wireless LAN antenna 306 receives a radio signal transmitted fromanother wireless LAN apparatus, or transmits a radio signal to anotherwireless LAN apparatus. A wireless LAN antenna control unit 307 is aso-called RF unit, and serves as a functional unit that demodulates anddecodes a wireless LAN signal to reconstruct information, or encodes andmodulates transmission data to generate a transmission signal. A mobilenetwork antenna 309 receives a radio signal transmitted from a basestation, or transmits a radio signal to a base station. A mobile networkantenna control unit 308 is a so-called RF unit, and serves as afunctional unit that demodulates and decodes a signal in the mobilecommunication network to reconstruct information, or encodes andmodulates transmission target data to generate a transmission signal. Adisplay unit 310 formed from a liquid crystal display or the like is afunctional unit that visually provides various kinds of information tothe user. An operation unit 311 includes switches and buttons, andserves as a functional unit that receives user instructions. A powersupply unit 312 supplies power to the units of the management apparatus102.

A device classification information processing unit 313 is a functionalunit that creates data associated with the device classificationinformation of the management apparatus 102 itself. The deviceclassification information processing unit 313 also identifies deviceclassification information from received data that is sent from apartner communication apparatus and associated with its deviceclassification information. Generally, the device classificationinformation processing unit 313 may be regarded as an acquisition meansbecause it acquires, from several different possible sources, deviceclassification information. A user account processing unit 314 is afunctional unit that receives a user account acquisition request from anexternal wireless communication apparatus, or generates and processesdata to be used to access a web service server and register or create auser account.

FIG. 4 shows a user account list held by the management apparatus 102.The profiles (i.e. account information) of one or more users are listedand recorded in a user account list 401.

A service name 402 indicates the name of a web service that uses a useraccount. The service name can be either input by the user via thedisplay unit 310 and the operation unit 311, or determined in advance.The service name can be set by the user or automatically set by aprogram.

A service type 403 indicates the service classification (serviceclassification information) of a web service. Service types such as“Image-Share” for still image data sharing and “Movie-Share” for movingimage data sharing indicate the contents of services. Note that theservice type can be either input and designated by the user, or acquiredby a program from information upon user account creation.

A user ID 404 indicates a user ID to be used for authentication of eachweb service. A password 405 indicates a password to be used forauthentication of each web service. In the following description, a setof a user ID and a password is used as a user account. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. For example, an access code ora PIN (Personal Identification Number) code may be included.Registered/unregistered information 406 indicates whether a user accountis already registered in a specific web service. Each of accounts A, B,and C corresponds to one user account information set (i.e. each accounthas a separate profile).

Reference numeral 500 a in FIG. 5 represents device classificationinformation 501 that stores the device classifications 502 of thewireless communication apparatus 101 and the management apparatus 102.In this case, information representing that the wireless communicationapparatus 101 is a “camera” 503 and the management apparatus 102 is a“cellular phone” 504 is stored. Note that the device classificationinformation of devices themselves including the wireless communicationapparatus 101 and the management apparatus 102 are preset in the ROM atthe time of shipment from factories or the like.

Reference numeral 500 b in FIG. 5 represents an example of a correlationtable 505 that associates device classification information 506 andservice types 507. More specifically, service types are set incorrespondence with device functions so that “Image-Share” is set for acamera, and “Movie-Share” is set for a video camera. Note that therelationship between device classification information and service typesis not limited to that shown in FIG. 5. For example, a deviceclassification determined using the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)protocol may be used.

<Outline of Operation of Each Device>

An example will be explained below in which the wireless communicationapparatus 101 is connected to the management apparatus 102 by wirelessLAN to upload an image to the web service server 105. Note that thewireless communication apparatus 101 and the management apparatus 102are not yet connected by wireless LAN in the initial state. They areconnected by creating a new wireless LAN network. The managementapparatus 102 is communicable with the web service server 105 via thebase station 103 and the public network 104. The management apparatus102 can be connected to the wireless communication apparatus 101 bywireless LAN and simultaneously to the base station 103 via the publicnetwork. The management apparatus also functions as a gateway whichtransfers (i.e. relays) data from the wireless communication apparatus101 to the web service server 105 via the public network 104.

Note that as described above, to use a service provided by the webservice server 105, authentication using a user account is necessary.However, the wireless communication apparatus 101 does not store useraccount information necessary for using a web service. A user accountsetting for logging in of the wireless communication apparatus 101 tothe web service server 105 will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communicationsystem according to the first embodiment.

In M601, a wireless LAN parameter automatic setting process is performedbetween the wireless communication apparatus 101 and the managementapparatus 102. Note that the parameter automatic setting processingunits 212 and 301 start the setting process when, for example, each ofthe wireless communication apparatus 101 and the management apparatus102 receives a parameter setting start instruction.

Note that the wireless parameter (communication parameter) automaticsetting process can be done by WPS (WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) ProtectedSetup) or the like. In the wireless parameter automatic setting,parameter leakage to a third party is prevented by, for example,verifying, by a PIN code or the like, the authenticity of the apparatusthat undergoes parameter setting. After the wireless parameter automaticsetting has succeeded, a parameter common to the wireless communicationapparatus 101 and the management apparatus 102 can be acquired.Connection by wireless LAN is done using the parameter.

In M602, the wireless communication apparatus 101 sends a deviceclassification information message to the management apparatus 102. Thedevice classification information message contains informationrepresenting the device classification (for example, camera) of thewireless communication apparatus 101. Information representing that theapparatus has no web browser function, or has difficulties in creating auser account may also be contained. In M603, the management apparatus102 sends a device classification information message to the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101. The device classification informationmessage contains information indicating that the management apparatus102 is, for example, a cellular phone apparatus. Information indicatingthat the apparatus has a web browser function, or is capable of creatinga user account may also be contained. Information representing that theapparatus already has a user account may also be contained. This allowsthe wireless communication apparatus 101 to determine that themanagement apparatus 102 has a user account or is capable of creatingone.

In M604, if the wireless communication apparatus 101 needs to acquire auser account, it sends a user account acquisition request message to themanagement apparatus 102. In M605, the management apparatus 102 performsuser account determination, and sends a user account acquisitionresponse message M606 to the wireless communication apparatus 101. Theuser account determination will be described later in detail. If thereis a user account that may be provided to the wireless communicationapparatus 101, the management apparatus sends a user account acquisitionresponse message containing a corresponding user account.

Upon receiving an image upload instruction from the user, the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101 starts an upload process.

In M607, the wireless communication apparatus 101 determines whether ithas a user account necessary for authentication to the web serviceserver. If the wireless communication apparatus 101 has a user account,it sends, to the management apparatus 102, a login process messageincluding information for the web service server 105 in M608. In M609,the management apparatus 102 receives the login process message, andtransfers it to the web service server 105.

In M610, the web service server 105 executes an authentication processusing the user account included in the login process message. If theauthentication has succeeded, the service of the web service server 105becomes usable. In M611, the web service server 105 sends, to themanagement apparatus 102, a login result notification message includingthe authentication result and information for the wireless communicationapparatus 101. In M612, the management apparatus 102 receives the loginresult notification message via the public network 104, and sends it tothe wireless communication apparatus 101.

If the login has succeeded, the wireless communication apparatus 101sends, to the management apparatus 102, an image upload process messagecontaining an image to be uploaded to the web service server 105 inM613. In M614, the management apparatus 102 receives the image uploadprocess message, and transfers it to the web service server 105. Imageupload from the wireless communication apparatus 101 to the web serviceserver 105 is thus implemented.

<Detailed Operation of Wireless Communication Apparatus 101>

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the user account acquisition process of thewireless communication apparatus 101. The steps to be explained beloware implemented by causing the control unit 202 in the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101 to execute a computer program stored in theROM 204.

In step S701, upon receiving a wireless parameter setting process startinstruction, the wireless communication apparatus 101 performs thewireless parameter automatic setting process. The parameter settingprocess start instruction is input by, for example, pressing the startbutton of the operation unit 208. Alternatively, the parameter settingprocess start instruction may be triggered by a program. The wirelessparameter automatic setting process is performed by the parameterautomatic setting processing unit 212.

After the wireless parameter automatic setting process has ended in stepS701, the wireless communication apparatus determines in step S702whether the wireless parameter setting has succeeded. If the setting hasfailed, the parameter setting process ends. If the setting hassucceeded, the process advances to step S703.

In step S703, the wireless LAN connection process is performed using theparameter acquired by the wireless parameter automatic setting processin step S701. The wireless LAN connection process is done via thewireless communication processing unit 201.

When the connection process has ended, the wireless communicationapparatus sends a device classification information message in stepS704. After sending the device classification information message, thewireless communication apparatus waits for reception of a deviceclassification information message from the partner apparatus in stepS705. Note that the order of providing the device classificationinformation of the self apparatus and acquiring the deviceclassification information of the partner apparatus may be reversed.

After receiving the device classification information, the wirelesscommunication apparatus determines in step S706 whether the partnercommunication apparatus has a user account. This determination is donebased on, for example, whether the device classification information ofthe partner communication apparatus indicates that the partnercommunication apparatus is a PC or cellular phone having a web browserfunction. Upon determining that the partner communication apparatus hasno user account, the parameter setting process ends. If the partnercommunication apparatus has a user account, the process advances to stepS707.

In step S707, the wireless communication apparatus causes the useraccount acquisition unit 211 to send the user account acquisitionrequest message. The user account acquisition request message maycontain authentication information such as a password to indicate theauthenticity of the acquisition apparatus. As the authenticationinformation, for example, information exchanged with the partnercommunication apparatus during the parameter setting process orinformation shared in advance is used.

In step S708, the wireless communication apparatus waits for receptionof the user account acquisition response message. Upon receiving theuser account acquisition response message, the process advances to stepS709.

In step S709, the wireless communication apparatus determines based onthe contents of the user account acquisition response message whetherthe user account acquisition has succeeded. If the acquisition hasfailed, the parameter setting process ends. The acquisition responsemessage includes, for example, information described in the user accountlist 401. In the first embodiment, for example, since the deviceclassification is “camera”, “account A” and “account B” corresponding toservice type “Image-Share” can be acquired from the comparison table inFIG. 5. If the acquisition has succeeded, the process advances to stepS710.

In step S710, the acquired user accounts are stored. All the acquireduser accounts may be stored, or only usable user accounts may be storeddiscriminately. The acquired user accounts are stored in the RAM 203 orthe like.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the upload process of the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101. The wireless communication apparatus 101starts the upload process upon receiving an upload instruction by anoperation on the operation unit 208 or the like. Note that the steps tobe explained below are implemented by causing the control unit 202 inthe wireless communication apparatus 101 to execute a computer programstored in the ROM 204.

In step S801, the wireless communication apparatus determines whether ithas the user account of the web service of the upload destination. Ifthe apparatus has the user account of the web service of the uploaddestination, the process advances to step S802. If the apparatus has nouser account, the process advances to step S806.

In step S802, the wireless communication apparatus determines whetherthe held user account is already registered. Whether the user account isalready registered can be determined using, for example, theregistered/unregistered information 406 in the user account list 401 asuser account information. If the user account is already registered, theprocess advances to step S810. If the user account is found to beunregistered in step S802, the process advances to step S803. Note thatif there are a plurality of pieces of account information provided bythe management apparatus based on the service type of the web service tobe used, specific account information may selectively be used.

In step S803, the wireless communication apparatus causes the useraccount acquisition unit 211 to send a user account registration requestmessage. The apparatus sends the registration request message includingthe user account information to be registered. After sending theregistration request message, the process advances to step S804.

In step S804, the wireless communication apparatus waits for receptionof a user account registration response message. Upon receiving the useraccount registration response message, the process advances to stepS805.

In step S805, the wireless communication apparatus determines based onthe contents of the user account registration response message whetherthe user account registration has succeeded. If the user accountregistration has succeeded, the process advances to step S810. If theregistration has failed, the upload process ends.

In step S806 (when no user account exists in the upload destination),the wireless communication apparatus determines whether a apparatuscapable of creating a user account exists in the network. For example,the apparatus refers to a device classification information message orthe like acquired during the parameter setting process, and determinesbased on the device classification information whether a apparatuscapable of creating a user account exists. This determination is donebased on, for example, whether the device classification information ofthe partner communication apparatus indicates that the apparatus is a PC(Personal computer) or cellular phone having a web browser function. Ifthe partner communication apparatus has a web browser function, thecommunication apparatus is determined to be able to create a useraccount. A communication apparatus having no web browser function isdetermined to be unable to create a user account. Note that thedetermination need not always be done based on the presence/absence ofthe web browser function. The determination may be done based on anotherfunction. Alternatively, the device classification information messagemay include information representing whether user account creation ispossible. Upon determining that an apparatus capable of creating a useraccount exists, the process advances to step S807. Upon determining thatno such apparatus exists, the upload process ends.

In step S807, the wireless communication apparatus causes the useraccount acquisition unit 211 to create a user account creation requestmessage, and send it to the apparatus capable of creating a useraccount. After the sending, the process advances to step S808.

In step S808, the wireless communication apparatus waits for receptionof a user account creation response message. Upon receiving the useraccount creation response message, the process advances to step S809.

In step S809, the wireless communication apparatus determines based onthe contents of the received user account creation response messagewhether the user account creation has succeeded. If the creation hassucceeded, the process advances to step S810. If the creation hasfailed, the upload process ends.

In step S810, the wireless communication apparatus performs a loginprocess to the web service using the corresponding user account. Notethat the program for the login process may be stored in the ROM 204 inadvance or acquired from the outside. When the login process has ended,the process advances to step S811.

In step S811, the wireless communication apparatus determines whetherthe login has succeeded. If the login has succeeded, the processadvances to step S812. If the login has failed, the upload process ends.

In step S812, the image upload process is executed using the image to beuploaded. The protocol necessary for the image upload process can beeither stored in the ROM 204 in advance or acquired from the outside, ofwhich no mention will be made here. After the image upload has ended,the upload process ends.

<Detailed Operation of Management Apparatus 102>

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the user account acquisition process of themanagement apparatus 102. The steps to be explained below areimplemented by causing the control unit 303 in the management apparatus102 to execute a computer program stored in the ROM 305.

In step S901, upon receiving a wireless parameter setting process startinstruction, the management apparatus 102 performs the wirelessparameter automatic setting process. The parameter setting process startinstruction can be input by, for example, pressing the start button ofthe operation unit 311 or using a program. The wireless parameterautomatic setting process is performed by the parameter automaticsetting processing unit 301.

After the wireless parameter automatic setting process has ended in stepS901, the management apparatus determines in step S902 whether thewireless parameter setting has succeeded. If the setting has failed, theparameter setting process ends. If the setting has succeeded, theprocess advances to step S903.

In step S903, the management apparatus registers the partnercommunication apparatus which has succeeded in the wireless parametersetting process as a user account transferable apparatus. Theregistration can be done using the identifier (for example, a MACaddress (Media Access Control address)) of the partner communicationapparatus or information (for example, password) sharable by the partnercommunication apparatus. However, the present invention is not limitedto those. After the registration, the process advances to step S904.

In step S904, a wireless LAN connection process is performed using theparameter acquired by the wireless parameter automatic setting process.The wireless LAN connection process is done via the wirelesscommunication processing unit 302.

When the connection process has ended, the management apparatus waitsfor reception of a device classification information message from thepartner apparatus in step S905.

Upon receiving the device classification information message, themanagement apparatus sends a device classification information messagein step S906. In the first embodiment, a device classificationinformation message including device classification informationrepresenting that the management apparatus 102 is a cellular phoneapparatus is sent. After the sending, the process advances to step S907.Note that the order of providing the device classification informationof the self apparatus and acquiring the device classificationinformation of the partner apparatus may be reversed.

In step S907, the management apparatus waits for reception of a useraccount acquisition request message. Upon receiving a user accountacquisition request message, the process advances to step S908.

In step S908, the management apparatus determines whether the useraccount acquisition request message sending source apparatus isregistered as a user account transferable apparatus. For example, when apassword is used, the management apparatus can determine whether thepassword is contained in the user account acquisition request message orwhether the password is authentic. Upon determining that the apparatusis registered as a user account transferable apparatus, the processadvances to step S909. Upon determining that the apparatus is notregistered, the parameter setting process ends.

In step S909, the management apparatus determines whether there is auser account that may be provided to the user account acquisitionrequest message sending source apparatus. In the first embodiment, thedevice classification of the wireless communication apparatus 101 can bedetermined as a “camera” by the device classification informationmessage. A service type corresponding to the device classificationinformation is extracted using the comparison table of deviceclassification information and service types shown in FIG. 5. Forexample, if the device classification is “camera”, a user accountcorresponding to service type “Image-Share” is extracted.

More specifically, “account A” and “account B” are extracted from theuser account list 401 in the management apparatus 102. The extracteduser accounts are decided as user accounts to be transferred. Whentransferring the user accounts, pieces of supplementary information(information described in the user account list) are transferredtogether with the user accounts. Note that if the device classificationinformation of the wireless communication apparatus 101 is “videocamera”, “account C” corresponding to the service type 403 “Movie-Share”is transferred. That is, if a user account exists, the process advancesto step S910. If no user account exists, the process advances to stepS911.

In step S910, the user account processing unit 314 adds a user accountto a user account acquisition response message, and sends it to the useraccount acquisition request message sending source apparatus. On theother hand, in step S911, the user account processing unit 314 sends, tothe user account acquisition request message sending source apparatus, auser account acquisition response message indicating that no useraccount exists or may be provided.

<User Account Registration Process>

A process to be executed when the wireless communication apparatusdetermines in step S802 of FIG. 8 that a user account is unregistered,and sends a user account registration request message will be describedbelow. This is a case in which the wireless communication apparatus 101will use, out of the user accounts acquired from the managementapparatus 102, an unregistered user account for authentication of a webservice.

FIG. 10 is a sequence chart showing the user account registrationprocess. The base sequence is the same as in FIG. 6, and a descriptionthereof will not be repeated.

Upon determining by the user account determination that user accountregistration is necessary in M607, the wireless communication apparatus101 sends a user account registration request message to the managementapparatus 102 in M1001. The user account registration request message issent with a designation of the registration target user account.

The management apparatus 102 receives the user account registrationrequest message. Upon determining to perform the user accountregistration process, the process of registering the user accountdesignated by the wireless communication apparatus 101 is performed inM1002 between the management apparatus 102 and the web service server105 via the base station 103.

The user account is registered in the web service server 105. After theuser account registration process has ended, the management apparatus102 sends a user account registration response message to the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101 as the result of the registration process inM1003. If the user account registration has succeeded, the login processis performed using the registered user account as in FIG. 6.Subsequently, the image upload process is executed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the user account registrationprocess of the management apparatus 102. Note that the steps to beexplained below are implemented by causing the control unit 303 in themanagement apparatus 102 to execute a computer program stored in the ROM305.

In step S1101, the management apparatus 102 waits for reception of auser account registration request message. In step S1102, the managementapparatus determines whether the sending source apparatus is registeredas a user account transferable apparatus. Upon determining that theapparatus is registered, the process advances to step S1103. Upondetermining that the apparatus is not registered, the process advancesto step S1106.

In step S1103, the user account registration process is performed. Theuser account is registered by, for example, a program. Alternatively, auser account registration notification may be displayed on the displayunit 310 to make the user perform the registration process. The presentinvention is not limited to these methods as far as the user accountregistration process can be executed. The registration process programcan be either stored in the ROM 305 or independently installed from theoutside to the management apparatus 102. After the end of the useraccount registration process, the process advances to step S1104.

In step S1104, the user account processing unit 314 determines whetherthe user account registration has succeeded. If the registration hassucceeded, the process advances to step S1105. If the registration hasfailed, the process advances to step S1106.

In step S1105, the management apparatus sends a user accountregistration response message including information representing thatthe user account registration has succeeded to the user accountregistration request message sending source apparatus. After thesending, the user account registration process ends. On the other hand,in step S1106 (when the account is determined as being not registered ineither step S1102 or step S1104), the management apparatus sends a useraccount registration response message including information representingthat the user account registration has failed to the user accountregistration request message sending source apparatus. After thesending, the user account registration process ends.

<User Account Creation Process>

A process to be executed when a user account creation request message issent in step S807 of FIG. 8 will be described below. This is a case inwhich the wireless communication apparatus 101 has determined in stepS801 that it does not have the user account of the upload destination,and in step S806 that an apparatus capable of creating a user accountexists in the network.

FIG. 12 is a sequence chart showing the user account creation process.The base sequence is the same as in FIG. 6, and a description thereofwill not be repeated.

Upon determining by the user account determination M607 that useraccount creation is necessary, the wireless communication apparatus 101sends a user account creation request message to the managementapparatus 102 in M1201.

The management apparatus 102 receives the user account creation requestmessage. Upon determining to perform the user account creation process,the user account creation process is performed in M1202 between themanagement apparatus 102 and the WEB service server 105 via the basestation 103.

After the user account creation process has ended, the managementapparatus 102 sends a user account creation response message to thewireless communication apparatus 101 as the result of the creationprocess in M1203. If the user account creation has succeeded, the loginprocess is performed using the created user account. Subsequently, theimage upload process is executed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the user account creation process ofthe management apparatus 102. Note that the steps to be explained beloware implemented by causing the control unit 303 in the managementapparatus 102 to execute a computer program stored in the ROM 305.

In step S1301, the management apparatus 102 waits for reception of auser account creation request message. In step S1302, the managementapparatus determines whether the sending source apparatus is registeredas a user account transferable apparatus. Upon determining that theapparatus is registered, the process advances to step S1303. Upondetermining that the apparatus is not registered, the process advancesto step S1306.

In step S1303, the user account creation process is performed. A useraccount is automatically created by a program. For example, if the webserver designates a mail address as the user ID (identification) of auser account, it is determined whether the management apparatus has amail address. If the management apparatus has a mail address, the mailaddress and an arbitrary password are created, and a user account iscreated using them. A user account may be created based on predeterminedinformation held by the wireless communication apparatus 101. Thepredetermined information for user account creation is stored in the ROM204 of the wireless communication apparatus 101, and a user accountcreation request message including the information is sent to themanagement apparatus 102. Examples of the predetermined information area mail address of the device name of the wireless communicationapparatus 101. However, the present invention is not limited to those.

Alternatively, a user account may be created based on information usedin the wireless parameter automatic setting process. For example, ifauthentication information such as a PIN code is used in the wirelessparameter automatic setting process, the PIN code is used as the user IDor password. Note that arbitrary information shared by the wirelesscommunication apparatus 101 and the management apparatus 102 in thewireless parameter automatic setting process is usable.

Instead of automatically creating a user account, a user accountcreation notification may be displayed on the display unit 310 to makethe user perform the creation process. For example, it is determinedwhether an image authentication code is used in user account creation.If an image authentication code is used, the user is caused to performthe creation process. The creation process program can be either storedin the ROM 305 or interpedently installed from the outside to themanagement apparatus 102. After the end of the user account creationprocess, the process advances to step S1304.

In step S1304, the user account processing unit 314 determines whetherthe user account creation has succeeded. If the creation has succeeded,the process advances to step S1305. If the creation has failed, theprocess advances to step S1306.

In step S1305, the management apparatus sends a user account creationresponse message including information representing that the useraccount creation has succeeded to the user account creation requestmessage sending source apparatus. On the other hand, in step S1306, themanagement apparatus sends a user account creation response messageincluding information representing that the user account creation hasfailed to the user account creation request message sending sourceapparatus.

As described above, according to the communication system of the firstembodiment, the management apparatus capable of creating a user accounttransfers a user account to another wireless communication apparatus.The other wireless communication apparatus need not set a new useraccount, and thus improves the user convenience. That is, it is possibleto provide a technique of allowing the wireless communication apparatus101 that has difficulties in creating and setting user accountinformation by itself to easily set the user account information. It isalso possible to provide a user account suitable for the wirelesscommunication apparatus of the providing destination.

Note that in the above-described first embodiment, the user accountsetting process is executed separately from the wireless parameterautomatic setting process. However, the wireless parameter automaticsetting process may include the user account setting process. In theabove-described first embodiment, the communication system includes onewireless communication apparatus and one management apparatus, for thedescriptive convenience. However, the above-described operation isexecutable even for a system including a plurality of wirelesscommunication apparatuses and management apparatuses. A priority ordermay be set for the plurality of management apparatuses so as to make thewireless communication apparatus to selectively adopt user accounts sentfrom the plurality of management apparatuses.

Other Embodiments

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (for example, computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2009-186778, filed on Aug. 11, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A management apparatus which manages account information relating to a service provided by a server apparatus, comprising: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of account information; a setting unit configured to perform a setting process, by which a wireless parameter used in a communication between a user apparatus and the management apparatus is set, between the user apparatus and the management apparatus; an acquisition unit configured to acquire, when the setting unit performs the setting process, device type information of the user apparatus from the user apparatus; and a providing unit configured to provide, from among the plurality of account information stored in said storage unit, account information corresponding to the device type information of the user apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the account information comprises information for identifying the service provided by the server apparatus, user ID information and password information for logging in to the server apparatus.
 2. The management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit configured to instruct the server apparatus to register account information designated by the user apparatus.
 3. The management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a creation unit configured to create account information in accordance with an instruction from the user apparatus.
 4. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said providing unit is configured to provide the account information corresponding to the device type information of the user apparatus to the user apparatus in a case where an account information acquisition request is received from the user apparatus.
 5. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device type information is information which can distinguish whether the user apparatus is a camera or a video camera.
 6. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service provided by the server apparatus is a service for sharing image data.
 7. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit provides the same account information to a first user apparatus and a second user apparatus in a case where the acquisition unit acquires the same device type information from the first user apparatus and the second user apparatus.
 8. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the account information is information used to authenticate the user apparatus at the server apparatus.
 9. The management apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a selecting unit configured to select, from among the plurality of account information stored in the storage unit, the account information corresponding to the device type information of the user apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the providing unit provides the account information selected by the selecting unit to the user apparatus.
 10. A method of controlling a management apparatus which manages account information related to a service provided by a server apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: storing in a storage unit a plurality of account information; performing a setting process, by which a wireless parameter used in a communication between a user apparatus and the communication apparatus is set, between the user apparatus and the management apparatus; acquiring, when the setting process is performed, device type information of the user apparatus from the user apparatus; and providing, from among the plurality of account information stored in the storage unit, account information corresponding to the device type information of the user apparatus acquiring in the acquiring step to the user apparatus, wherein the account information comprises information for identifying the service provided by the server apparatus, user ID information and password information for logging in to the server apparatus.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing code of a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method of controlling a management apparatus which manages account information related to a service provided by a server apparatus, the program comprising: code for storing in a storage unit a plurality of account information; code for performing a setting process, by which a wireless parameter used in a communication between a user apparatus and the management apparatus is set, between the user apparatus and the management apparatus; code for acquiring, when the setting process is performed, device type information of the user apparatus from the user apparatus; and code for providing, from among the plurality of account information stored in the storage unit, account information corresponding to the device type information of the user apparatus acquiring in the acquiring step to the user apparatus, wherein the account information comprises information for identifying the service provided by the server apparatus, user ID information and password information for logging in to the server apparatus. 